Interactive threshold setting for pie charts

ABSTRACT

In an approach to threshold setting for pie charts, a computing device displays one or more pie charts. The computing device receives an instruction to enter Threshold-Setting Mode. The computing device displays one or more threshold-setting flags associated with one or more pie chart slices and one or more indicators associated with the one or more pie chart slices. The computing device receives an instruction to set a threshold associated with a slice. The computing device updates a percentage displayed on an indicator associated with the threshold. The computing device displays the threshold as a virtual slice.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of data analysis,and more particularly to generation of data visualizations for thepurposes of monitoring and control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A goal of data visualization is the creation of visual representationsof data, for example in the form of graphs, plots, and informationgraphics, which make data easier to understand and more useable for theviewer. Pie charts are data visualization tools that can conveyinformation through slice color, position, and ratio. A pie chart istypically a circular (i.e., pie-shaped) chart comprising one or moresections, or “slices,” each of which represents a defined percentage ofthe entire chart. The values represented by respective slices can besaid to rely on each other, because together the values sum to 100percent. In an example, a pie chart conveys information concerning thefavorite colors reported by a class of 100 students and initiallycomprises a seventy-percent “green” slice (if seventy students reportthat their favorite color is green), a fifteen-percent “red” slice, aten-percent “yellow” slice, a five-percent “blue” slice. In thisexample, if ten “green” students change their minds and report that blueis actually their favorite color, the “green” slice shrinks to fillsixty percent of the pie chart and the blue slice grows to fill fifteenpercent of the pie chart.

A threshold is a value at or beyond which a measure (e.g., an intensityof a stimulus, a temperature, a percentage) becomes significant for adefined reason. For example, at or below thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit,water freezes; at or above 212 degrees Fahrenheit, water boils; and ator above a defined market share, a firm can be comfortable with itsposition.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the present invention, acomputer-implemented method for pie chart threshold-setting is provided.The method comprises providing, by one or more computer processors, oneor more displayed pie charts; providing, by one or more computerprocessors, one or more threshold-setting flags, wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags comprise one or more range flags that can becontrolled via a user interface to set a threshold, wherein thethreshold is associated with a slice of the pie chart, and wherein theone or more threshold-setting flags can be viewed and controlled by auser in a Threshold-Setting Mode; providing, by one or more computerprocessors, one or more indicators, wherein the one or more indicatorsdisplay a percentage value associated with the threshold, and whereinthe one or more indicators can be viewed in Threshold-Setting Mode;receiving, by one or more computer processors, an instruction to enterThreshold-Setting Mode; receiving, by one or more computer processors,an instruction to set a threshold, based on the user controlling a rangeflag or inputting a value via an indicator in Threshold-Setting Mode;updating, by one or more computer processors, the displayed percentagevalue based on the set threshold; and displaying, by one or morecomputer processors, the threshold as a virtual slice associated withthe pie chart.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computerprogram product for pie chart threshold setting is provided, thecomputer program product comprising one or more computer readablestorage media and program instructions stored on the one or morecomputer readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:program instructions to provide one or more displayed pie charts;program instructions to provide one or more threshold-setting flags,wherein the one or more threshold-setting flags comprise one or morerange flags that can be controlled via a user interface to set athreshold, wherein the threshold is associated with a slice of the piechart, and wherein the one or more threshold-setting flags can be viewedand controlled by a user in a Threshold-Setting Mode; programinstructions to provide one or more indicators, wherein the one or moreindicators display a percentage value associated with the threshold, andwherein the one or more indicators can be viewed in Threshold-SettingMode; program instructions to receive an instruction to enterThreshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to receive an instructionto set a threshold, based on the user controlling a range flag orinputting a value via an indicator in Threshold-Setting Mode; programinstructions to update the displayed percentage value based on the setthreshold; and program instructions to display the threshold as avirtual slice associated with the pie chart.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a computersystem for pie chart threshold setting is provided, the computer systemcomprising one or more processors; one or more computer readable storagemedia; and program instructions stored on the one or more computerreadable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or moreprocessors, the program instructions comprising: program instructions toprovide one or more displayed pie charts; program instructions toprovide one or more threshold-setting flags, wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags comprise one or more range flags that can becontrolled via a user interface to set a threshold, wherein thethreshold is associated with a slice of the pie chart, and wherein theone or more threshold-setting flags can be viewed and controlled by auser in a Threshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to provide one ormore indicators, wherein the one or more indicators display a percentagevalue associated with the threshold, and wherein the one or moreindicators can be viewed in Threshold-Setting Mode; program instructionsto receive an instruction to enter Threshold-Setting Mode; programinstructions to receive an instruction to set a threshold, based on theuser controlling a range flag or inputting a value via an indicator inThreshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to update the displayedpercentage value based on the set threshold; and program instructions todisplay the threshold as a virtual slice associated with the pie chart.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing environment, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting steps of a pie chart threshold-settingmethod, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A-F shows examples of a pie chart in Threshold-Setting Mode, inaccordance with an embodiment of present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of components of the computing device in FIG.1 executing a pie chart threshold-setting program, in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A pie chart, as a data visualization tool, can communicate usefulinformation through the color, position, and ratio of its slices. Theusefulness of a pie chart can be enhanced by the addition of interactiveelements such as threshold-setting capability, especially if thethresholds can be incorporated in such a way that they do not interferewith the overall clarity of the visualization. Achieving this kind ofinteractive, viewer-friendly threshold-setting capability can bechallenging, because the slices of a pie chart represent percentages,and therefore they rely on each other. Embodiments described hereinrecognize this challenge and disclose an approach to threshold-settingfor pie charts that can increase their usefulness for data monitoringand control purposes, such as but not limited to tracking disk spaceusage or tracking data usage on a mobile device while traveling.

Embodiments of the present invention are described herein with referenceto the Figures. FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a computing environment100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1is provided for the purposes of illustration and does not imply anylimitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments can be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironment can be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the invention as recited in the claims.

Computing environment 100 includes computing device 104, which can beinterconnected with other devices (not shown) over network 102. Network102 can be, for example, a telecommunications network, a local areanetwork (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), such as the Internet, or acombination of these, and can include wired, wireless, or fiber opticconnections. In general, network 102 can be any combination ofconnections and protocols that will support communications betweencomputing device 104 and other computing devices (not shown) withincomputing environment 100.

Computing device 104 can be any programmable electronic device capableof executing machine-readable instructions, communicating with otherdevices over network 102, and presenting information to a user via auser interface. Computing device 104 includes user interface 106, piechart component 108, threshold-setting component 110, and stored data112. Computing device 104 can include internal and external hardwarecomponents, as depicted and described in further detail with referenceto FIG. 4.

User interface 106 provides an interface between a user of computingdevice 104 and computing device 104. User interface 106 can be, but isnot limited to being, a graphical user interface (GUI) or a web userinterface (WUI) and can display text, documents, web browser windows,user options, application interfaces, and instructions for operation,and can include the information (such as graphic, text, and sound)presented to a user and the control sequences the user employs tocontrol threshold-setting component 110.

Pie chart component 108 is a program that generates pie chart-type datavisualizations, or “pie charts,” based on data, such as but not limitedto real-time and/or stored data 112 (described herein). The pie chartscan be, for example but without limitation, destined for display on aweb page to meet monitoring and control objectives, such as but notlimited to ensuring that a sales volume percentage for a geographicregion does not fall below a defined threshold, and triggering an alertif the threshold is reached. Pie chart component 108 can display one ormore generated pie charts to a user, as illustrated herein withreference to FIG. 3A-F.

Threshold-setting component 110 allows a user of pie chart component 108to enter a “Threshold-Setting Mode” by, for example but withoutlimitation, clicking or tapping with a finger or other touch object on aregion of user interface 106 that is on or surrounding a displayed piechart (not shown). In Threshold-Setting Mode, threshold-settingcomponent 110 provides one or more threshold-setting cursors or flags,also referred to herein simply as “flags,” corresponding to slices ofthe displayed pie chart.

The one or more threshold-setting flags corresponding to a specificslice comprise a range flag that the user can control to set a thresholdassociated with the slice. For example, for a pie chart that representstotal available disk space and includes a slice that represents diskspace used by a specific application, the user can control a range flagto set an upper threshold for permissible disk space usage by theapplication (e.g., as defined by the user).

The user can set an upper threshold by, for example but withoutlimitation, using a finger or other touch object on a surface of atouchscreen display to drag the range flag rightwards (or clockwise)around the perimeter of the pie chart. An upper threshold is a virtualslice, as illustrated herein with reference to FIG. 3D-F, thatrepresents a greater percentage of the entire pie chart than isrepresented by its corresponding slice. In an embodiment, the user canadjust (e.g., increase or decrease) the upper threshold by otherinteractions, such as a leftwards dragging motion to decrease the upperthreshold or a rightwards dragging motion to increase the upperthreshold. In another example, if a lower threshold is desired, the usercan use a finger or other touch object to drag the range flag leftwards(or counterclockwise) around the perimeter of the pie chart. A lowerthreshold is a virtual slice, as illustrated herein with reference toFIG. 3B-E, that represents a smaller percentage of the entire pie chartthan is represented by its corresponding slice. In an embodiment, theuser can adjust (e.g., increase or decrease) the lower threshold byother interactions, such as a leftwards dragging motion to decrease thelower threshold or a rightwards dragging motion to increase the lowerthreshold.

In Threshold-Setting Mode, threshold-setting component 110 also providesone or more indicators corresponding to each slice of the displayed piechart. An indicator shows information concerning the threshold, forexample but without limitation, a percent value of the threshold andwhether the threshold is an upper threshold or a lower threshold. Theindicator can appear, e.g., near the slice to which it corresponds. Theuser can interact with the indicator to set a threshold without using athreshold-setting flag, as described herein with reference to FIG. 3F.

Stored data 112 comprises the data represented by the pie chart(s)generated by pie chart component 108 in a non-limiting embodiment.Stored data 112 can be stored entirely on computing device 104, orpartly or entirely remotely, on other devices (not shown) withincomputing environment 100.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart 200 depicting operational steps of a pie chartthreshold-setting method, in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

In step 202, pie chart component 108 displays a pie chart via userinterface 106.

In step 204, threshold-setting component 110 enters Threshold-SettingMode responsive to, for example but without limitation, a user's clickor tap interaction with a region on or surrounding the displayed piechart.

In step 206, in Threshold-Setting Mode, threshold-setting component 110provides one or more flags and an indicator corresponding to a slice ofthe pie chart.

In step 208, threshold-setting component 110 receives an instruction toset a threshold corresponding to the slice. In an example, theinstruction can be in the form of a user input controlling a range flag,wherein the user clicks on and drags the range flag in a clockwisedirection around the perimeter of the pie chart in order to set an upperthreshold or adjust (increase) a lower threshold. In another example,the instruction can be in the form of a user input controlling the rangeflag, wherein the user clicks on and drags the range flag in acounterclockwise direction around the perimeter of the pie chart inorder to set a lower threshold or adjust (decrease) a lower threshold.In another example, the instruction can be in the form of a user inputvia a displayed indicator, as described herein with reference to FIG.3F.

In step 210, threshold-setting component 110 displays the set thresholdas a virtual slice. Threshold-setting component 110 updates theindicator to show information, such as but not limited to a direction(upper or lower) and a percentage value, associated with the setthreshold.

In step 212, threshold-setting component 110 receives an instruction toexit Threshold-Setting Mode.

In step 214, threshold-setting component 110 can hide the flag(s) andindicator corresponding to the slice. The virtual slice remains visibleout of Threshold-Setting Mode.

FIG. 3A-F shows examples of a pie chart in Threshold-Setting Mode, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. It should benoted that the appearance of examples 300, 320, 330, 340, 350, and 360can vary in different embodiments. For example but without limitation,the fill of a pie chart slice (e.g., the crosshatched fill of slice 308in FIG. 3A) can vary (e.g., slice 308 can have a solid turquoise fill,without crosshatching, in another embodiment). Examples 300, 320, 340,350, and 360 are intended to be non-limiting, and other possiblevariations will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 3A shows example 300 of a pie chart in Threshold-Setting Mode.Example 300 shows pie chart 302 with slice 304, slice 306, and slice308. Example 300 shows flag 310 associated with slice 304, flag 312associated with slice 306, and flag 314 associated with slice 308. In anembodiment, flags 310-314 can be invisible when the user exitsThreshold-Setting Mode (not shown), for example by clicking on a regionon or near pie chart 302. Pie chart 302 can represent, for example butwithout limitation, respective market share percentages of three firmsthat sell widgets. In the same example, Firm A's market share (slice304) is 31%, Firm B's market share (slice 306) is 14%, and Firm C'smarket share (slice 308) is 55%.

FIG. 3B shows example 320 of pie chart 302 when the user clicks on flag310 in Threshold-Setting Mode. Responsive to the user clicking on flag310, range flag 322, indicator 324, and threshold 326 appear. Range flag322, indicator 324, and threshold 326 correspond to slice 304.

The user can click on and drag range flag 322 clockwise orcounterclockwise along the perimeter of pie chart 302 in order to setthreshold 326. Indicator 324 displays the percentage of pie chart 302that is represented by threshold 326. In example 320, indicator 324expresses threshold 326 as “>3%” (value 328), where the inequality (“>,”greater than) indicates that the user is setting an upper threshold.

FIG. 3C shows example 330 of pie chart 302 with cursor 332, which in anembodiment can be a visible cursor displayed via user interface 106 or,for example but without limitation, in another embodiment represent(merely for the purpose of illustration) a finger or other touch objectcontrolled by the user to drag range flag 322 clockwise along theperimeter of pie chart 302 in order to set an upper threshold. As shownin example 330, the appearance of slice 306 and slice 308, such as butwithout limitation the color saturation and/or fill density of theimage, can change during dragging to allow the user to focus on slice304 and threshold 326. As threshold 326 changes during dragging,indicator 324 shows an updated value 328A to reflect the change. Theuser can release range flag 322 (e.g., in the case of a touchscreen,lift his or her finger from the surface) to finish setting threshold326.

FIG. 3D shows example 340 of pie chart 302 when the user has setthreshold 326 (at value 328B, >37%) and clicks on a second flag, i.e.,flag 314, in Threshold-Setting Mode. Responsive to the user clicking onflag 314, indicator 342, range flag 344, and threshold 346 appear.Indicator 342, range flag 344, and threshold 346 correspond to slice308.

The user can click on and drag range flag 344 clockwise orcounterclockwise along the perimeter of pie chart 302 in order to adjustthreshold 346. Indicator 342 displays the percentage of pie chart 302that is represented by threshold 346. In example 340, indicator 342expresses threshold 346 as “<18%” (value 348), wherein the inequality(“<,” less than) indicates that the user is setting a lower threshold.

As shown in example 340, the respective colors and/or fill of indicator324 and indicator 342, and of threshold 326 and threshold 346, candiffer from each other and correspond to (e.g., match) the respectivecolors and/or fills of slice 304 and slice 308.

FIG. 3E shows example 350 of pie chart 302 when the user has setthreshold 326 (at value 328B, >37%) and threshold 346 (at value348A, >20%), and clicks on a third flag, i.e., flag 312, inThreshold-Setting Mode. Responsive to the user clicking on flag 312,indicator 352, range flag 354, and threshold 356 appear. Indicator 352,range flag 354, and threshold 356 correspond to slice 306.

The user can click on and drag range flag 354 clockwise orcounterclockwise along the perimeter of pie chart 302 in order to adjustthreshold 356. Indicator 352 displays the percentage of pie chart 302that is represented by threshold 356. In example 350, indicator 352expresses threshold 356 as “>20%” (value 358).

It should be noted that threshold 326, threshold 346, and threshold 356can differ from one another in height as well as color and/or fill, inorder to avoid viewer confusion due to multiple overlapping thresholds.For example, as shown in example 350, threshold 326, threshold 346, andthreshold 356 can extend outward in a spiral pattern from pie chart 302.

FIG. 3F shows example 360 of pie chart 302 when the user has adjustedthreshold 346 (value 348B, >37%) and threshold 356 (value 358A, >37%) byanother approach. For example, the user has clicked on indicator 342 andindicator 352, respectively, and input text (e.g., “>37%”) to setthresholds 346-356 without controlling a range flags 344-354.

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram 400 of components of computing device 104in computing environment 100, in accordance with illustrativeembodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG.4 provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not implyany limitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironment may be made.

Computing device 104 includes communications fabric 402, which providescommunications between computer processor(s) 404, memory 406, persistentstorage 408, communications unit 410, and input/output (I/O)interface(s) 412, and cache 414. Communications fabric 402 can beimplemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/orcontrol information between processors (such as microprocessors,communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheraldevices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example,communications fabric 402 can be implemented with one or more buses.

Memory 406 and persistent storage 408 are computer readable storagemedia. In this embodiment, memory 406 includes random access memory(RAM) and cache memory 414. In general, memory 406 can include anysuitable volatile or non-volatile computer readable storage media. Cache414 is a fast memory that enhances the performance of computerprocessor(s) 404 by holding recently accessed data, and data nearaccessed data, from memory 406.

Program instructions and data used to practice embodiments of theinvention, referred to collectively as component(s) 416, are stored inpersistent storage 408 for execution and/or access by one or more of therespective computer processors 404 via one or more memories of memory406. In this embodiment, persistent storage 408 includes a magnetic harddisk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive,persistent storage 408 can include a solid state hard drive, asemiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any othercomputer readable storage media that is capable of storing programinstructions or digital information.

The media used by persistent storage 408 may also be removable. Forexample, a removable hard drive can be used for persistent storage 408.Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, andsmart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto anothercomputer readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage408.

Communications unit 410, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. Communications unit 410can include one or more network interface cards. Communications unit 410can provide communications through the use of either or both physicaland wireless communications links. Component(s) 416 can be downloaded topersistent storage 408 through communications unit 410.

I/O interface(s) 412 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to computing device 104. For example, I/Ointerface 412 can provide a connection to external devices 418 such as akeyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable inputdevice. External devices 418 can also include portable computer readablestorage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical ormagnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practiceembodiments of the present invention, e.g., component(s) 416, can bestored on such portable computer readable storage media and can beloaded onto persistent storage 408 via I/O interface(s) 412. I/Ointerface(s) 412 also connect to a display 420.

Display 420 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be,for example, a touchscreen.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles ofthe embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement overtechnologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinaryskill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for pie chartthreshold setting, the method comprising: providing, by one or morecomputer processors, one or more displayed pie charts wherein the one ormore pie charts comprise more than one slice: providing, by the one ormore computer processors, one or more threshold-setting flags, whereinthe one or more threshold-setting flags are associated with each sliceand comprise one or more range flags that can be controlled via a userinterface to set a threshold, wherein the threshold is associated with aslice of the one or more pie charts, and wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags can be viewed and controlled by a user in aThreshold-Setting Mode; providing, by the one or more computerprocessors, one or more indicators, wherein the one or more indicatorsare associated with each slice and display a percentage value associatedwith the threshold, and wherein the one or more indicators can be viewedin the Threshold-Setting Mode; receiving, by the one or more computerprocessors, an instruction to enter the Threshold-Setting Mode;receiving, by the one or more computer processors, an instruction to setthe threshold, based on the user controlling a range flag of the one ormore range flags or inputting a value via an indicator of the one ormore indicators in the Threshold-Setting Mode; updating, by the one ormore computer processors, the displayed percentage value based on theset threshold; and displaying, by the one or more computer processors,the set threshold as a virtual slice associated with the one or more piecharts wherein multiple overlapping virtual slices associated with aplurality of pie chart slices are displayed, based on the user havingset at a plurality of thresholds, and wherein the multiple overlappingvirtual slices are differentiated amongst themselves based on one ormore of color and height.
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the user controls the range flag of the one or more range flagsby a directional dragging motion.
 3. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 2, wherein a lower threshold can be set by a leftwards draggingmotion and an upper threshold can be set by a rightwards draggingmotion.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving, by the one or more computer processors, aninstruction to exit the Threshold-Setting Mode; and hiding, by the oneor more computer processors, responsive to the instruction to exit theThreshold-Setting Mode, the one or more threshold-setting flags and theone or more indicators.
 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1,wherein the virtual slice is displayed as an extension of the one ormore pie charts.
 6. A computer program product for pie chart thresholdsetting, the computer program product comprising: one or morenon-transitory computer readable storage media and program instructionsstored on the one or more non-transitory computer readable storagemedia, the program instructions comprising: program instructions toprovide one or more displayed pie charts; program instructions toprovide one or more threshold-setting flags, wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags comprise one or more range flags that can becontrolled via a user interface to set a threshold, wherein thethreshold is associated with a slice of the one or more pie charts, andwherein the one or more threshold-setting flags can be viewed andcontrolled by a user in a Threshold-Setting Mode; program instructionsto provide one or more indicators, wherein the one or more indicatorsdisplay a percentage value associated with the threshold, and whereinthe one or more indicators can be viewed in the Threshold-Setting Mode;program instructions to receive an instruction to enter theThreshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to receive an instructionto set the threshold, based on the user controlling a range flag of theone or more range flags or inputting a value via an indicator of the oneor more indicators in the Threshold-Setting Mode; program instructionsto update the displayed percentage value based on the set threshold; andprogram instructions to display the set threshold as a virtual sliceassociated with the one or more pie charts wherein multiple overlappingvirtual slices associated with a plurality of pie chart slices aredisplayed, based on the user having set at a plurality of thresholds,and wherein the multiple overlapping virtual slices are differentiatedamongst themselves based on one or more of color and height.
 7. Thecomputer program product of claim 6, wherein the user controls the rangeflag of the one or more range flags by a directional dragging motion. 8.The computer program product of claim 7, wherein a lower threshold canbe set by a leftwards dragging motion and an upper threshold can be setby a rightwards dragging motion.
 9. The computer program product ofclaim 6, further comprising: program instructions to receiving aninstruction to exit the Threshold-Setting Mode; and program instructionsto hide, responsive to the instruction to exit the Threshold-SettingMode, the one or more threshold-setting flags and the one or moreindicators.
 10. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein thevirtual slice is displayed as an extension of the one or more piecharts.
 11. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the one ormore pie charts comprises more than one slice, and wherein the one ormore threshold-setting flags and the one or more indicators areassociated with each slice.
 12. A computer system for pie chartthreshold setting, the computer system comprising: one or moreprocessors; one or more computer readable storage media; and programinstructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage mediafor execution by at least one of the one or more processors, the programinstructions comprising: program instructions to provide one or moredisplayed pie charts; program instructions to provide one or morethreshold-setting flags, wherein the one or more threshold-setting flagscomprise one or more range flags that can be controlled via a userinterface to set a threshold, wherein the threshold is associated with aslice of the one or more pie charts, and wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags can be viewed and controlled by a user in aThreshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to provide one or moreindicators, wherein the one or more indicators display a percentagevalue associated with the threshold, and wherein the one or moreindicators can be viewed in the Threshold-Setting Mode; programinstructions to receive an instruction to enter the Threshold-SettingMode; program instructions to receive an instruction to set thethreshold, based on the user controlling a range flag of the one or morerange flags or inputting a value via an indicator of the one or moreindicators in the Threshold-Setting Mode; program instructions to updatethe displayed percentage value based on the set threshold; and programinstructions to display the set threshold as a virtual slice associatedwith the one or more pie charts wherein multiple overlapping virtualslices associated with a plurality of pie chart slices are displayed,based on the user having set at a plurality of thresholds, and whereinthe multiple overlapping virtual slices are differentiated amongstthemselves based on one or more of color and height.
 13. The computersystem of claim 12, wherein the user controls the range flag of the oneor more range flags by a directional dragging motion.
 14. The computersystem of claim 12, further comprising: program instructions toreceiving an instruction to exit the Threshold-Setting Mode; and programinstructions to hide, responsive to the instruction to exit theThreshold-Setting Mode, the one or more threshold-setting flags and theone or more indicators.
 15. The computer system of claim 12, wherein thevirtual slice is displayed as an extension of the one or more piecharts.
 16. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the one or more piecharts comprises more than one slice, and wherein the one or morethreshold-setting flags and the one or more indicators are associatedwith each slice.